History of Korea's censorship of animated films could repeat itself!

[FirePuppy 735]

Did you know? Before the 21st century, Koreans had no legal access to hardcore Japanese media like anime and manga because of some old law that passed ever since, and anything from that country had to be given completely new names before entering the South Korean market.

Fortunately, the laws have been revised throughout the years, and as of at least 13 years ago, all Japanese anime films were allowed in Korean theaters.

Unfortunately, the MLP movie we're dying to see is non-Japanese, and worse yet, Korea's the last remaining Asian country without a release date OR a distributor. The longer it's like this, the more likely history may repeat itself – on a Canadian-American animated film!

P.S. I don't speak Korean; I'm actually a normal brony who is sort of addicted to world history/social studies.

Edited July 12, 2017 by FirePuppy

[Red Cedar 1,408]

The movie's success will not hinge on Korea, so if this is an issue there I'd say it is up to the Korean people to lobby their government over any censorship.

[Black Sabbath 2,486]

I think you're overreacting. The reason Korea may not show the movie is far more likely that FIM isn't as popular there as it is in other countries, so Hasbro doesn't simply bother releasing it there.  

[FirePuppy 735]

55 minutes ago, Yamet said:

The reason Korea may not show the movie is far more likely that FIM isn't as popular there as it is in other countries, so Hasbro doesn't simply bother releasing it there.  

Putting the film in the exact same state as old Japanese anime films were before the 2000s to Korean audiences so that not even the hardcore MLP fans living there can have legal access to seeing the film.

By the way, all those other countries HAD legal access to anime and manga as well, UNLIKE Korea.

Edited July 11, 2017 by FirePuppy
More explanation

[Black Sabbath 2,486]

3 minutes ago, FirePuppy said:

Putting the film in the exact same state as old Japanese anime films were before the 2000s to Korean audiences so that not even the hardcore MLP fans living there can have legal access to seeing the film.

But just because they choose not release one movie in Korea, doesn't mean that Korea is going to ban every American movie.  

5 minutes ago, FirePuppy said:

By the way, all those other countries HAD legal access to anime and manga as well, UNLIKE Korea.

How is this relevant to what I said?  

[FirePuppy 735]

2 hours ago, Yamet said:

But just because they choose not release one movie in Korea, doesn't mean that Korea is going to ban every American movie.  

Yeah, not EVERY American movie. Just My Little Pony: The Movie!

2 hours ago, Yamet said:

How is this relevant to what I said?  

Asian countries other than Korea did not have any of the same disputes with Japan last century. According to history, after Korea was freed from the Japanese, they banned every movie from that country for a long time.

So if nothing happens soon (considering as though there's still no info about the film in any official Korean website), My Little Pony: The Movie could bring back history for the first time in 13 years. Of course, I am suspecting that the movie is already finished by now and something's preventing the import and distribution of it to South Koreans.

[Black Sabbath 2,486]

20 minutes ago, FirePuppy said:

Of course, I am suspecting that the movie is already finished by now and something's preventing the import and distribution of it to South Koreans.

Once again, I'm going to assume that it's because FIM isn't popular enough there. There's no other reason why South Korea wouldn't release it.

 

[FirePuppy 735]

Hope I can trust you on this one. I don't know what else can be done for Koreans to have any legal access to see six friendly ponies on the big screen.

[Steve Piranha 29,443]

I think you're making this a bigger issue than it should be. I dunno if South Korea will ever allow the pony movie to be shown there, but if not, chances are is that ponies ain't big there. Not sure, I don't follow South Korea's ways of life. Why South Korea only? What about the North  ? (Disclaimer: that was a joke, but this disclaimer shouldn't exist in the first place  )

[FirePuppy 735]

6 hours ago, Steve Piranha said:

I think you're making this a bigger issue than it should be. I dunno if South Korea will ever allow the pony movie to be shown there, but if not, chances are is that ponies ain't big there. Not sure, I don't follow South Korea's ways of life. Why South Korea only? What about the North  ? (Disclaimer: that was a joke, but this disclaimer shouldn't exist in the first place  )

Who cares about the North? That country hardly releases anything anyway.

South Korea, for one, didn't release any Japanese anime films until the 21st century, like:

• Castle in the Sky (JP: August 2, 1986 - SK: April 30, 2004)
• My Neighbor Totoro (JP: April 16, 1988 - SK: July 27, 2001)
• Kiki's Delivery Service (JP: July 29, 1989 - SK: November 22, 2007)
• Only Yesterday (JP: July 20, 1991 - SK: June 8, 2006)
• Porco Rosso (JP: July 18, 1992 - SK: December 19, 2003)
• Pom Poko (JP: July 16, 1994 - SK: April 28, 2005)

This is because Japanese animated films were banned until 17 years ago.

[superdogz1999 551]

I presume the reason why the pony movie isn't being released in Korea is because of the lack of Interest as Korea only dubbed Seasons 1 and 2 and they weren't that popular and it only appealed to a small niche. Its a bit like how Magical Girls were popular in Italy and France during the 1980s but they were unheard of in America.

So in conclusion, no market interest rather than censorship.

[FirePuppy 735]

1 hour ago, superdogz1999 said:

I presume the reason why the pony movie isn't being released in Korea is because of the lack of Interest as Korea only dubbed Seasons 1 and 2 and they weren't that popular and it only appealed to a small niche. Its a bit like how Magical Girls were popular in Italy and France during the 1980s but they were unheard of in America.

So in conclusion, no market interest rather than censorship.

Does that mean, no ban to lift? 'Cause I'm pretty certain there was a ban to lift on Japanese media nearly two decades ago.

But seeing as though it's still a little too early, maybe there's still hope and we could see something later on. But if nothing happens within the next 3 months, it definitely won't look good for Korean audiences.

Edited July 12, 2017 by FirePuppy